Mamelodi Sundowns and Supesport United in showdown against KZN duo

Bragging rights and crucial league points will be up for grabs when Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United take to the field against KwaZulu-Natal’s Golden Arrows and AmaZulu in a mouthwatering Betway Premiership midweek showdown.

Fresh off their comfortable 1-0 win against Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns will make the long trip to Durban in an attempt to extend their dominant start to the campaign when they meet Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale on Wednesday (7.30pm kick-off).

The Brazilians are enjoying an 18-point lead at the top of the log, and with their closest competitors, Orlando Pirates, dropping points in a 2-0 loss against Marumo Gallants this past weekend, the 17-time league champions are perfectly placed to add to their 19 wins for the season.

The fixture has taken an interesting twist with Abafana Bes’thende announcing the arrival of former long-time serving coach Manqoba Mngqithi as their new head coach. This follows the interim tenure of co-coaches Musa Bilankulu and Kagisho Dikgacoi since the departure of Mabhuti Khenyeza.

Mngqithi was part of Sundowns’ technical team during Pitso Mosimane’s tenure, where they enjoyed success in winning both the league and the CAF Champions League. He also worked under Rhulani Mokwena, securing a couple of league titles before eventually falling out of favor early in the season.

His knowledge of the Pretoria-based outfit could be an advantage on the night, but under the guidance of Miguel Cardoso, the Brazilians have done little wrong. It will take much more than Mngqithi’s insights to derail the defending champions on their path to an eighth successive title.

Elsewhere, SuperSport United will be looking to redeem themselves after suffering a shock 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Magesi FC this past weekend.

Matsatsantsa will welcome an in-form AmaZulu to the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday.

Gavin Hunt and his charges have endured a league season to forget, having spent much of the campaign in the bottom half.

The loss against Dikwena tsa Meetsi was not only costly in terms of halting their newly found momentum — built from an impressive 4-1 win against Kaizer Chiefs and a 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune United — but also allowed their direct relegation rivals to cut the gap between them to just three points.

Matsatsantsa suffered a 2-1 defeat the last time these two sides met less than a month ago. Goals from Ben Motshwari and Rowan Human canceled out Siphesihle Ndlovu’s 36th-minute strike, handing Usuthu what is proving to be a crucial victory.

Usuthu are on a two-match unbeaten run, which has seen them climb the Betway Premiership log, where they currently occupy fifth position.

With only eleven matches remaining before the season draws to a close, the urgency for Gavin Hunt and his charges to find their best form is growing with every fixture, as the battle for survival intensifies.

Their inconsistency has placed them in a situation where they must secure a result against an in-form AmaZulu — or risk being dragged even deeper into the relegation zone.